Would lactulose cause my cat to drink more water?I recently took her to the vet for constipation. The vet did a complete diagnostic checkup: xray and blood testing. They found nothing wrong with her. They put her on enulose (a lactulose solution) to prevent future constipation. I give her 1ml twice a day. She takes it well and has been more regular. She has been on this for about a month now. Shortly after starting the medication, I noticed an increase in her water consumption. I know this could be a warning sign of kidney disease but she just had a full check up and before taking the medication her water consumption was normal. Is this a side effect of this medication? What are some other side effects I should be aware of? Thanks!
Posted by redunicorn
When I think increased thirst, I think diabetes.
Posted by ponygirl
My cat drinks quite a bit of water too and my cat has been taking lactulose for a couple of years. My advice would be to check with your Vet about possible side effects.My cat also has liver disease and has had other problems,so each cat is different.
Posted by Kat
I think your cat isn't taking in anough water in the rfirst place and that is what caused the origional constipation problem. I would recommend trying a wet diet before giving your cat a medication for a problem that can be solved witha proper diet.
Cats were never meant to eat dry food, also known as cereals or kibble. We, humans, make them eat it for convenience to us. It has nothing to do with them or their nutritional needs. It's completely species inappropriate.
All small domestic cats descended from desert cats. In the wild, desert cats derive their entire liquid intake from their prey. They do not have a thirst mechanism because they don't need it when eating a species appropriate diet. They get all they need from what they eat. Additionally water was usually not available to them in their desert climate. So they do not often drink water. Regular ol' house cats have descended from those same wild desert cats.
So in a home environment, your kitty does not get the moisture it needs from dry food and it's almost always in a constant state of dehydration. Water fountains are encouraged to TRY to get your cat to drink more and your kitty may even enjoy it, but it will never meet its water intake needs drinking from a bowl.
Deadly feline illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, allergies, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), bladder stones, kidney stones, urinary tract blockages and Urinary Tract Infections (FLUTD), with and without deadly crystals run rampant these days. Cats are not taking in enough water to stave them off. Proper water intake through a species appropriate diet alone can prevent most of these conditions.
It is also bogus that kibble cleans teeth. DRY FOOD DOES NOT CLEAN TEETH. It's an old myth that has been scientifically disproved for years, but old-school vets drilled it into people's heads for so long (and sadly still do) that people still believe it. Cats can not "chew". They do not have flat "chewing" teeth. Their molars are not for grinding food. They have meat ripping pointy carnivorous teeth. You may see them "crunch" a piece of food once to crack and break it… but they are absolutely unable to chew a hard piece of food. Want your cat to have clean teeth? Give them an appropriately sized raw bone to chew on. :o)
Overall, wet is all around better for any cats diet, be it canned or Raw and they should never be fed dry cereal kibble if we wish to most closely match their wild nutritional and dietary needs. Kibble meets our needs… not our cats.
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